Legal and Consumer Information

Information About Taft College

1. Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

Taft College maintains student records and privacy in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act sets forth requirements regarding the privacy of student records.  FERPA protects students’ rights to inspect and review their education records, to request to amend their educational records and to limit disclosure of personally identifiable information contained in education records.

Student education records are defined as records, files, documents and other materials which contain information directly related to a student and are maintained by the institution or by a party acting for the institution.  Education records are NOT: sole possession records, law enforcement unit records, employment records, medical records, or post-attendance records.

The college may disclose information without student consent to the following:

  • To college faculty, staff and administrators with a legitimate educational interest in the information.
  • In response to a request for directory information.
  • To Federal, State and local education authorities involving an audit, evaluation or compliance with education programs.
  • Agents acting on behalf of the college (i.e. National Student Clearinghouse).
  • In connection with processing financial aid.
  • Accrediting organizations.
  • To comply with a judicial order or subpoena.
  • In connection with a health or safety emergency if the information will assist in resolving the emergency.

All currently enrolled and former Taft College students, regardless of age, are protected under FERPA.

FERPA Annual Notification

Read our FERPA annual notification statement.

2. Programs and Services Available to Students with Disabilities

The Disabled Student Program and Services (DSPS) provides support services to students with disabilities in an effort to ensure equal opportunity and participation at the college.  For more information about the facilities and services available to students with disabilities, visit the Disabled Student Programs and Services website.

3. Student Body Diversity

Taft College regularly reports this information to the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).  Follow these steps to access this information:

  • Go to the IPEDS College Navigator at http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
  • Type “Taft College” in Name of School search box
  • Click on the Taft College link which appears in the list of results
  • For gender and race/ethnicity data, click on the “Enrollment” link to expand the selection
  • For information about Pell Grant recipients, expand the “Financial Aid” link

Gender, demographic and other data is also available in the Student Profile reports published regularly by the Taft College department of Institutional Assessment, Research and Planning.

4. Textbook Information

Students may access textbook information from the Taft College Bookstore website.  Follow these steps to access this information:

  • Go the Taft College Bookstore website.
  • Place arrow over the "Textbooks" menu.
  • Select "Order Textbooks" from the drop down menu.
  • Students may either enter the information for the textbook or enter information through the “Select Your Courses” section.

5. Voter Registration Information

Taft College encourages eligible students to register to vote. Students may register on the California Voter Registration website.

6. Transfer of Credit Policies and Articulation Agreement

Transfer of Credit to Other Colleges and Universities

Taft College is fully accredited by the Accrediting Commission for the Community and Junior Colleges, which is a part of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.  All courses equivalent to university and college work are generally accepted by all WASC member colleges and most other colleges and universities in the United States.  Specific information on course and/or program articulation agreements with the University of California and the California State University can be found at www.assist.org.

Transfer of Credit from Foreign Countries

Transfer credits from foreign countries will be accepted with the recommendations of an approved foreign credential transcripts evaluation and translation service.  Taft College accepts foreign coursework whose evaluation reports have been certified by NACES (National Association of Credential Evaluation Services) & AICE (Association of International Credential Evaluators).  For additional information please refer to Foreign Evaluation Services.

Military Service School Credit

Taft College will grant credit to veterans for active military service.  The maximum general credit is 8 semester units – 4 for having completed basic training and two for each of the first 2 years of service.  Credit is also granted for educational work completed in the various service schools in accordance with the recommendations of the American Council of Education.  This credit will be applied to help meet the requirements for graduation but is subject to acceptance by any other college to which the student transfers.  The maximum credit allowed for all military service experience is 20 units.  Duplicate credit will not be given in both high school and college.  If a veteran uses service credits to complete high school graduation requirements, these same units may not be used to fulfill college graduation requirements.  Students must complete 12 units at Taft College before Military Credit will be posted.  For further information, visit the Veterans Services website.

7. Cost of Attendance

For cost of attendance information, visit our Tuition and Fees page.

8. Net Price Calculator

The Net Price Calculator for Taft College can be accessed at https://misweb.cccco.edu/npc/691/npcalc.htm.

9. Refund Policies

Students are responsible for dropping the classes they no longer wish to attend.  To be eligible for a refund of enrollment fees, a dropped class must have been dropped on or prior to the refund deadline for the particular class.  Full-time classes will always have a fixed refund deadline published in the Class Schedule each semester.  The refund deadline for any non-standard, part-of-term class is calculated at 10% of the class meeting days scheduled between the start and end dates for the particular class.  For example, if a class is scheduled to meet twice a week for a total of 30 class meetings, the refund deadline would be the 3rd class meeting (10% of the 30 class meetings days).  Once the drop has been processed, the student’s account will be automatically adjusted and a refund issued if necessary.

10. Withdrawal Procedures

Students can drop classes via Cougar Tracks or by bringing a completed Drop Form to the Counseling Office in the Student Services Building.  An instructor’s signature is not required to drop a class.  Students will receive a W grade, if they drop a class after the last day to drop without a W.  W grades are not considered punitive, though a student’s subsequent Financial Aid eligibility and Academic Progress Evaluation may be affected.  Classes cannot be dropped after the deadline to receive a W; students who are still enrolled after the last day to drop must receive a letter grade (A-FW or P/NP).  Please refer to the Add/Drop deadlines schedule.

Students may be dropped from classes by the instructor if they do not attend the first or second class meeting or for excessive absences.  However, student are ultimately responsible for withdrawing from a class they no longer plan to attend.  Failure to do so can result in a failing grade being issued by the instructor and charges being issues for the class.

11. Description of Academic Programs

Upon satisfactory completion of requirements and upon approval of the Board of Trustees, students may earn the Associate in Arts Degree, Associate in Science Degree, Associate Degrees for Transfer (AA-T or AS-T), Certificate of Achievement and Local Certificates.

Associate in Arts/Science Degrees, Associate Degrees for Transfer (AA-T or AS-T)

For the Associate in Arts, Associate in Science degree to any of the Associate Degrees for Transfer (AA-T or AS-T) a student must demonstrate competence in reading, in written expression and in mathematics.  The student must satisfactorily complete at least 60 semester units in degree-applicable course with a minimum of a “C” (2.0) grade point average (GPA) and a minimum grade of ‘C’ in all courses in the major (field of study) and competency fields.

Certificate of Achievement and Local Certificates

Certificate of Achievement and Local Certificates are designed for students interested in programs of instruction with a high degree of specialization.  Programs vary in length and generally require less than two years of full-time study to complete.

12. Instructional Facilities and Labs

Taft College provides instructional and laboratory facilities needed to support each of its academic programs.  Contact the chairperson for the department for specific information about the facilities and resources available to support the academic program.

13. Faculty

Information on the college faculty and instructional personnel is available on the Faculty & Staff website.

14. Accreditation Information

This information can be found on the Institutional Research and Planning website.

15. Copyright Infringement

Illegal distribution of Copyrighted Materials

Taft College supports the Higher Education Opportunity Act and Digital Millennium Copyright Act, including efforts to eliminate the illegal distribution of copyrighted material. Taft College Board Policy 3710 provide guidelines to students, faculty and staff to assist in compliance with federal copyright laws. BP is posted on the Board of Trustees website.

16. Constitution Day Information

In order to comply with the new federal regulation requiring the development of educational programming to celebrate Constitution Day on September 17th of each year, Taft College Associated Student Body provides faculty, students and staff with access to U.S. Constitution Day educational resources, movies and toolkits.

17. Standards of Student Conduct

The Taft College Board of Trustees is charged with the responsibility for the governance of Taft College.  In furtherance of the responsibility, the Board of Trustees has the authority to adopt and enforce such rules and regulations, as it deems necessary for the operation, control and management of Taft College.  Education Code Section 66300 stats the Board of Trustees shall adopt specific rules and regulations governing student behavior.  The Standards of Student Conduct adopted by the Board of Trustees include provisions relating to the standards of conduct expected of students at Taft College.  Faculty and administrators involved in the disciplinary process are expected to abide by the standards articulated in the Taft College Standards of Student Conduct. Students who fail to conform to the established standards of student conduct are subject to one or more of the disciplinary penalties listed in the Standards of Student Conduct.  A disciplinary penalty may not be imposed upon a student for engaging in prohibited conduct unless the student has been offered an opportunity for a hearing which conforms to certain minimal procedural due process standards.  Student Conduct Policies have been drafted to establish disciplinary hearing procedures which conform to procedural due process requirements.

The Standards of Student Conduct can be found in the student handbook.

Discipline

School discipline has two main goals:

  1. Ensure the safety of staff and students
  2. Create an environment conducive to learning.

Due Process

In the pursuit of the student’s academic ends, a student should be free of unfair and improper action by any member of the academic community.  A grievance may be initiated by a student when the student believes she/he has been subject to unjust action or denied his/her rights as stipulated in published college regulations, State Laws or Federal laws.  Such action may be instituted by a student against a faculty/staff member of an administrator.  The process in which to file a grievance may be located in the Taft College Student Handbook.

18. Overview of Financial Aid Programs

Taft College has a full array of Title IV program and California State Programs.

Title IV Aid - Federal

  • Pell Grant
  • Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant

California State Aid

  • Board of Governors Fee Waiver
  • Cal Grant B & C
  • Full-time Student Success Grant
  • Chafee Grant (Federal funds administered by CSAC)

19. Financial Reports and Other Required Disclosures

Link to Financial Reports and Other Required Disclosures

  • WKCCD Retirement Board of Authority
  • WKCCD Annual Budget
  • WKCCD Annual Financial Report
  • Audit Services RFP
  • Futuris Public Entity Investment Trust
  • Other Disclosures
  • Requests for Bids
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